Category Archives: Triple B

This one (4580) is really not done “justice” on the BLM page. 4580, the little grulla filly, looks like a “wild” scared horse. She was actually very brave and came close enough to sniff my sleeve. She is built nice and has a beautiful head. The one with her, 4592, has a bid and is very curious. They are “buddies.”

Special little ladies

My personal pics

I love this horse. This one was not really interested in what everyone else was doing. "Investigated" me "solo." Not nervous, but slow and independent.

This is the same horse that is bonded to the black in the "portrait" shot in the last post. This mare is a bit dominant and very sure of herself. She was not rough, no kicking, but was the first to greet me and all the others followed her lead. Her eyes are very bright. I like her. She will be a "learner."

Note on above horse: This bay is listed as a “sorrel” and is 4517.

And of course… Our “baby boy” ….

"Baby boy"

Have you seen my mom? Triple B roundup

All of these horses (except baby) are currently on the BLM internet adoption page for Palomino Valley.

While applauding the Times for having covered the issue of Wild Horses and Burros on public land, the journalistic standard of the piece “Interior’s New Wild Horse Chief Confronts…” by Phil Taylor lacks authoritative bases.

Federal law does not “force” the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to “cull” horses. The law instead requires them to manage according to a “multiple use” mandate and to “protect” wild horses as “living symbols of the pioneer spirit of the West.” “Removal” of horses is only one of many tools in the BLM’s toolbox although by choice, it is the only one utilized thus far in the forty-year history of the mandate.

The “advocate community” is rightly concerned that wild herds are not managed under “multiple use,” but are managed at a non viable standard in an inhumane fashion. If an extraction company was forced to operate at the current capacity that our National Treasures are being managed, they would be forced out of business. Genetic bankruptcy is more than a concern, it is a stark reality that would ultimately lead to the extinction of wild horses in the West.

There is no “over population.” There is instead, competition for resources on public land.

If you give away a resource the horses rely on to an entity that operates in a subsidized fashion on public land, you have an “over population” of horses according to the agency. You have also created another avenue for public wealth to go into private pockets on the back of an already over burdened American tax payer.

The agency manages more public land than any other, approximately 262 million acres. All of that land is open to “multiple use,” two-thirds of it open to livestock grazing and a mere 10 percent is currently legal land for wild horse herds. Within that 10 percent, horses are often provided less than 2 percent of available resources.

Fences create artificial migration routes. Water sources are fenced off and roads are being widened for the high speed heavy truck traffic to accommodate expanding extractive interests. These extractive interests compete for water in arid western states. Their thirst for the liquid is rising at an alarming rate.

This agency determined that an “Appropriate Management Level” (AML) of horses for one Herd Management Area was sufficient at three animals. Why did they leave three? The BLM did not want their statistics to show another area “zeroed out” of wild horses.

Joan Guilfoyle is now sitting atop an agency guilty of severe fiscal mismanagement rooted in historic prejudice where private interests can profit. Its failed policy is running full steam toward disastrous consequence to the health of public land. Wild Horses are its chosen scapegoats. It is more than tragic that yet another bureaucrat who parrots the old regime has taken the helm.

Guilfoyle, claiming to have been at the Triple B roundup, states,

“It might be the one in a thousand that rears up against the corral and bumps up against the gate, and people go, ‘Oh my gosh, it got hurt,'” she said. “But that’s one out of thousand that came through more or less agreeably. Part of it, I think, is perception and understanding of what’s happening.”

First death at Triple B

I personally attended more roundups than any government personnel or public observer in the last eighteen months. I documented horrific incompetence and lack of the most basic of humane treatment. That documentation includes a nonstop testimony to numerous daily offensive actions. Triple B is no exception. Taylor, who accepted her words as Gospel, fell down on the job when not seeking where the truth lies.

Mr. Taylor cites one lawsuit that could not halt the roundup. Yet, he fails to cite the suit that succeeded in proving that the Agency is guilty of inhumane treatment. A temporary restraining order (TRO) was issued late last month by the Honorable Howard D. McKibben, a Nevada federal judge (Case 3:11-cv-608). His Honor expressed stern disapproval not only toward the conduct of the helicopter pilot who actually struck an exhausted horse, but toward the BLM’s justification process that “blames the horse” for such incidents The suit remains active in federal court. Meanwhile, Guilfoyle’s agency has yet to address Judge McKibben’s decision. Incredibly, the BLM refuses thus far to even recognize Judge McKibben’s remarks of his being “troubled” by the BLM’s conduct, nor has Guilfoyle’s agency issued parameters for pilot conduct in the wake of the judge’s ruling.

The press has yet to “do their job” and hold the government accountable as our forefathers intended they do when they wrote the Constitution. Taylor’s piece is evidence of spineless reporting where he fails to address press access issues in his warm “welcome aboard” message to Guilfoyle.

As camera lenses and observers catch atrocities, Guilfoyle’s agency closes its doors to observers instead of implementing corrective action. The BLM blames advocates for “not understanding” what they must do. Or, they”blame the horse” for “necessary” abusive treatment.

Two respected organizations, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the National Press Photographers Association, filed a brief in a pending Ninth Circuit appeal (Case 11-16088) over their concern for the Agency’s denigration of constitutional First Amendment “freedom of speech” and “freedom of the press” notions. The case addresses the repeated content control accomplished to minimize “bad press,” when Guilfoyle’s agency systematically excludes the press and public from viewing its horrific handling of wild horses captured from public lands. Remove the press and there is no problem.

It is more than a “shame on you” I send to Phil Taylor for failing to address either of these cases in his article. Mr. Taylor instead, chose the “easy way out,” avoiding the tough and gritty method real journalists employ when ferreting out the truth of their chosen topic. Taylor’s piece legitimizes an agency that is no friend either to America’s wild horse or to the true journalist.

Laura Leigh

Founder, Wild Horse Education

Vice President, Wild Horse Freedom Federation

Plaintiff in the above mentioned Federal lawsuits

Terrified foal forced through the jute after his band was shattered and he was chased with only his mom into the trap, colliding with wings, Triple B

Donations can be made to support Litigation at Wild Horse Freedom Federation. You can mark your donation “HUmane Case” or donate to the general fund to help pay cost for other ongoing Litigation efforts.

Orphan at Triple B

Feds found to be in violation of own humane standards

HOUSTON, (WHFF) – Wild Horse Freedom Federation (WHFF) filed a lawsuit and companion Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Federal Court in Reno Nevada on Wednesday, 8/24/2011. Through their Plaintiff, Laura Leigh, the issue of “humane treatment” will enter into a Courtroom.

The Wild Horse and Burro Act that passed unanimously in 1971 was done with the expressed intent of protecting the “living symbol of the pioneer spirit of the West.” Yet questions of humane treatment, including basic care like water and feed, often come into question during actual roundup operations.

Now 40 years later the question of “humane care” will have its “day in Court.”

“Day in, day out, roundup to roundup, I see the same issues,” said Leigh WHFF, VP and Founder of WHE (Wild Horse Education.org), “lack of water in holding, feed given inappropriately and a pilot that flies dangerously close, including contact with an exhausted animal. When you view these animals in their natural state and then witness the disregard given to our symbol of freedom, it is a direct blow to your soul.”

Leigh has witnessed more roundups than any government or public observer in the last 18 months. She has spent countless hours documenting wild herd behavior and the process these horses face once they are removed from the range.

BLM states it operates under regulation 43 CFR 4700, including the following definitions:

Humane treatment means handling compatible with animal husbandry practices accepted in the veterinary community, without causing unnecessary stress or suffering to a wild horse or burro.

Inhumane treatment means any intentional or negligent action or failure to act that causes stress, injury, or undue suffering to a wild horse or burro and is not compatible with animal husbandry practices accepted in the veterinary community.

“Accountability within the actual activities of the BLM has been an ongoing issue,” states WHFF President R.T. Fitch “actually finding an avenue to address the core intent of Legislation has been almost impossible. If this is an issue that needs to land in a Federal Court to actually begin a dialogue than that is exactly what we will do.”

###

Wild Horse Freedom Federation (WHFF) is a registered, Texas non-profit corporation with 501c3 status pending. WHFF puts people between America’s wild equids and extinction through targeted litigation against governmental agencies whose documented agendas include the eradication of wild horse and burros from public, federal and state lands. WHFF is funded exclusively through the generosity of the American public.

I have a high tolerance for documenting what happens to our wild horses with the goal of bringing the images to the public that can not be here on the ground. Documentation to educate and work toward reform.

My tolerance for the bald face lying has evaporated with the last bit of moisture from my skin.

I saw a heavy, young wet mare (either close to birth or just having done so) hotshotted. The claim was they did “everything they could” to make her move.

I’ll get the video edited… no they didn’t. She was the very last horse and was holding up the conclusion of operations so that the contractors could run into the air conditioning… and off to the rodeo.

A tiny baby from early morning still had not paired up. I watched that baby clack it’s teeth, try to nurse off of other mares and get pushed away. I watched that baby lay down exhausted and not one muzzle came to check on the babe.

I asked Bruce Thompson, Elko district WH&B specialist, what the protocol was to determine that babe was orphaned… In other words when was some lazy son of a ____ going to come sit at the pen… see the TINY babe without a mom and give it electrolytes or milk replacer. I was told they would check in the morning… when I asked why the two contractors operate so differently (I don’t like what Cattoor does but Sue identifies orphans and cares for them immediately). Thompson actually had the … what would you call it … nerve?…. to say he didn’t know what I was talking about. I told him I’ll send him a tape… (and the film crew they were trying to impress actually had already seen Cattoor match mares and foals and knew excatly what I was talking about).

Then I was warned the second time by the security guard to “watch myself.” Don’t worry folks, I was miked the whole time… I am never out of line. They control what I can see, they control where I stand… but they can not control what I say. IT IS THE TRUTH.

Six horses fell in the chute today. Two of them limped afterward, one was rather stunned.

You all know I like feet… they say so very much.

(BTW they only give a walk around on “Announced observation days.” In other words once a week).

I will get edits up including a foal getting caught in the jute as soon as I can. I have had six flat tires this roundup. Lost my sway bar lionks. Had to have brakes done, too. I am thankful every day that truck actually still runs…

A few pictures for you.

Will this be a "pre-existing" condition?

Horse down in the alley

Another horse getting crushed in the alley, six today.

...... why don't they care?.....

EVERYDAY with this contractor... every damn day

early morning run for your life

After being "protected" by our Federal government through their chosen contractor Sun-J

Have you seen my mom?

I need your help to keep up the work. I promise I am working hard and will have an announcement soon.

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Laura Leigh

Laura loves horses. They have held a special place in her heart since childhood. The fight for legislation to protect these amazing beings has become integral to her work. Laura has been involved in anti-slaughter issues for more than a decade. The last few years she has focused on wild horses.
Laura has attended more roundups than any other observer including government personnel in the last two years. She founded Wild Horse Education to try to bring information on the hands on care of ild horses and burros to the public in a timely fashion
with archive resource.
Laura is an award winning illustrator/animator, photojournalist. Her work has been seen on CNN, PBS, BBC and in print venues including Horseback Magazine. All photos and video on this site are credited to Laura unless otherwise noted.
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